What Leads to Winter Water Damage in Easton, PA Homes?

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: Winter water damage in Easton, PA is commonplace in most homes. This article explores the common causes of winter water damage. Read on to learn and prepare yourself for the next winter.

Cold winter temperatures in Easton, PA come with their fair share of challenges, including winter water damage, which can destroy your walls, carpet, furniture, and electrical appliances. Here are the most common causes of winter water damage in Easton, PA homes.

Leaking Water Heater

As temperature drops, water heaters are forced to work harder to heat up. In turn, the water heater has to run long hours to keep the water hot. If you have an old heater, this constant running might cause it to leak or burst, leading to flooding. 

Burst Pipes

When the temperatures drop below freezing point, water inside poorly insulated pipes also freezes. When the water inside the pipe freezes, it can expand by 9% of its original size, which causes the pipes to burst. Burst pipes can result in extreme water damage to your walls and floors. 

Blocked Gutters

Gutters often direct water away from your home to avoid damaging your property. However, water will leak under the shingles and into your home when your gutters are blocked with debris or ice. This will cause water damage to your home. 

If ice or snow is melting from your roof and flowing into the blocked gutters, your home probably has faulty insulation that allows heat to escape and melt the ice or snow. Therefore, it would be best to fix your insulation and clear your gutters to ensure water flows into a safe place and prevent the formation of ice dams. You also need to inspect your shingles for damages and fix them to stop water from seeping into your house.

Outdoor Water Sources

The freezing temperature makes outdoor water sources a safety risk. Therefore, it is prudent for you to have safety measures in place to avoid any water damage issues. This means that you need to drain all garden hoses and keep them in a warm place. In addition, it is wise for you to shut off all outdoor water valves. If a water pipe bursts during winter, it may cause water to flow into your home, leading to flooding. Therefore, you have to enlist the services of a water damage restoration or flood restoration service to correct this fault as quickly as possible to prevent mold formation and growth.

Insulation Problems

All exposed pipes have to be properly insulated to prevent freezing. If not, the cold winter temperature might cause the freezing of continents within the pipe, leading to the rupture of pipes. Insulate your exposed pipes using fiberglass or foam pipe insulation.

Melting Snow

Snow on your roof could melt because of several reasons and permeate your house's foundation. If you do not attend to this and correct it, the water will cause cracks in your foundation. In addition, melting snow on your roof can destroy your home's roof and leak in through the ceiling. This can cause water damage to your ceiling and the wooden structure on your roof. It can also cause mold formation. To correct these issues, contact a water damage restoration service provider to assess the extent of the damage and restore your house to its original state.

SERVPRO of Easton, Bethlehem and Whitehall is a reliable water removal service provided with a wealth of experience. You can call the company at (610) 559-9380 or email them at SERVPRO5770@SERVPROofeaston.com to book an appointment or request emergency services. You can visit their offices located at 860 N Kiowa St. Allentown, PA 18109.